Method op and apparatus for making brushes



P. J. KANE.

METHOD OF AND MAKING BRUSHES. No. 541,973. Patented July 2, 189B.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. J. KANE. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES. No. 541,973. Patented July 2. 1895.

W PZiFiG/E (ZIMJZ.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK J. KANE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES P.

' MOONEY, OF SAME PLACE.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,973, dated July 2, 1895.

Application filed April 24, 1894.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. KANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Making Brushes; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaius to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon,which forma part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved method of making brushes, and consists in the apparatus by means of which the bristles are separated in part and clamped together in a mass for a portion of their length, leaving both end portions of the bristles unclamped. The brush as thus constituted is to be subsequently placed within a suitable mold and an adhesive compound forced in between the inner exposed unclamped ends of the bristles. This adhesive compound is to be of such a nature that it will, upon being cooled, harden or set.

Other features of my process will be hereinafter described and explained;

The drawings represent, in Figure l, a central vertical section of a mold containing a brush in process of manufacture under my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the brush, showing the bristle-holding apparatus, the exterior moldbox being omitted. Fig. 4 is plan of one of. the bristle-holding plates. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the sectional bristleholding rings. Fig. 6 is a perspective of a circular brush completed.

In the accompanying drawings, 2 represents a mold-box closed at the bottom, open at the top, and in whichthe brush is to be placed during the process of cementing the bristles. (Shown at 3.) Y

The purpose of my improved process is to expedite, and thereby cheapen, the manufacture of brushes of any form or shape. The object of the exterior box is to afford a convenient and easy way of adjusting or arranging the successive layers of bristles in the formation of abrush,the bristles to rest with Serial No. 508.870, (No model.)

their outer ends against the inner periphery of the mold-box.

The bristle-holder in which is embodied one of the primary characteristics of my invention comprises a base or circular disk 4, having a raised centralsurface 6, from which rises a core-rod 5, while an annular plate 7 rests upon the said base outside of the raised portion 6. This element or annular plate is employed mainly to support the outer or extreme portions of the bristles in order to enable the latter to be arranged in a horizontal plane. The core-rod is preferably a separate piece and removably affixed in the base to provide for different sizesin the bore of brushesin process of manufacture. The other parts of the bristle-holder include a number of sectional circular rings 8, with radial fingers 9, while a cap 10 (see Fig. 4) or imperforate disk is bored to receive holding rods 12, which extend through and are removably attached .to the base. Said rods are preferably to extend through the holder between the bristles, as shown in Fig. 2, while a central aperture admits the plunger. The rods are made removable by simply upsetting one end or applying a nut, which is countersunk or may enter a recess in the under side of the base-plate.

In the present method of making a brush I propose in lieu of arranging the bristles into individual knots, so called, as is generally practiced, to mass them collectively in a series of groups. These groups in the present instance are shown at let (see Fig. 1) and comprise a number of successive layers of bristles, which are formed as illustrated in plan (see Fig. 2)-that is, assuming the disk 4: and annular plate 7 are in position within the mold-box, a quantity of bristles are taken and distributed evenly upon the top of the surface 6 and plate 7 and disposed radially, while their outer ends are brought into contact with the outside of the 1nold-box by merely pushing the bristles outwardly from the center. After this group has been assembled and evenly distributed one of the sectional rings 8 is put in place, as shown inFig. 2, with the radial fingers 9 likewise in contact with the sides of the mold-box. These sections of the rings are shown to be pierced, and it is to be understood that in the process of making a brush the holding-rods 12 are first thrust throughthe base of the bristle-holder. Hence in placing a section of a ring in position each Section is passed down over two of the rods, and thus as each successive ring is adjusted it is held positively in place. It will be found that these fingers perform a double functionr first, they adjust the sectional rings at a predetermined distance from the inner surface of the mold-box, and thus compel each set of rings to form circles of the same diameter; secondly, they enable the rings to be easily withdrawn from the brush after the bristles have been secured in place or cemented together. The sectional rings serve to hold the bristles in place and act as a dam or stop to prevent the cement from extending along the bristles beyond that point at which it is intended the bristles should enter the adhesive material.

Different sizes of mold-boxes are used for different sizes of brushes, since it is the facility with which the bristles may be adjusted against the interior surface of the mold which produces the advantageous results in the rapid making of a brush.

From the above description it will be seen that the brush is composed of successive layers of bristles, separated by the sectional rings which are interposed. Thus when the desired thickness of brush has been produced the top plate or cap 10 is inserted over the clamping bolts or rods 12, the nuts on the latter are screwed down, andithe brush is now in readiness to have the adhesive compound ap' plied.- This compound is shown at 16 and is preferably to be introduced into. the space which exists between the central core and the inner surface edges of the sectional rings. The plunger 17 is now caused to descend and the pressure created causes the cement to permeate and enter the spaces between the ends of the bristles. The distance which the cementis allowed to go lengthwise of the bristles is limited by the position of the sectional rings. To facilitate the removal of parts in contact with the cement, said parts may be greased or oiled to prevent the cement adhering. After the cement has been properly pressed about the bristle extremities the brush is removed from the mold-box, the clampingbolts removed, and the various sections of the rings withdrawn from between the bristles, when the brush is set one side in order to permit the cement to harden, after which the brush is in readiness for shipment or use.

What I claim is 1. The method of producinga brush which consists in assembling the bristles in successive layers, in disposing removable separating mediums between said layers, in clamping said bristles together for a portion of their length, in applying cement about the inner unclamped extremities, and finallyin removing the separating mediums from between the bristles, substantially as explained.

2. In combination with a mold-box, a bristle-holder comprising a base, a cap, interconnecting clamping bolts, and sectional rings adapted to be interposed between the various masses of bristles, and means for forcing cement aboutand between the inner exposed ends of the bristles, substantially as stated.

3. The combination with a rnold-box, and a plunger, a bristle-holder comprising a cap, a base, and a central core rod, a series of sectional rings, a series of radial fingers adapted to rest against the inner walls of the mold box,and aseries of clamping bolts which pass through the various rings as likewise through the cap and base of the bristle-holder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK J. KANE. Witnesses:

H. E. LODGE, FRANCIS C. STAN\VOOD. 

